Formation of States

Formation of States

2020-04-20 00:10:01

• Formation of States
  • Sources
  • Emergence of New Categories of people/ Society
    • Gahapati
    • Merchants
    • Ruler and the Ruled
    • Social Life (Extra)
  • Mahajanapadas and Their Capitals :
  • PYQs

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Image unavailable in web version: SQ/SANDHÂRA Hastinaporo Ahicchatra indrapra kaccha aru

• The emergence of Janapadas signified the birth of geography in Indian history. In vedic society people were not attached to one area.
• Villages. towns and clties were the units where the people lived.
• this was the time when kings and monarchs emerged. This was also the age of intense philosophical speculation. Buddhism, Jainism and many other heterodox sects emerged

Sources

• The Brahmanas and the Upanishads were composed from 800 BC they mention many janapadas and Mahajanapadas.
• Vinaya Pitaka, Sutta Pitaka and Abhidhamma Pitaka tells about the social life of people.
• Jatakas dealing with the stories of the previous births of the Buddha are part of the Sutta Pitaka.
• Various archaeological evidences from Ahichchhatra, Ujjain, Hastinapur, Atraji Khera, Sravasti, Vaishal etc. They have given a distinctive pottery called NBPW.
• During the later vedic phase people took up agriculture and began to settle down, these places were known as Janapadas.
• The texts that mention about the Mahajanapadas are :
  • Anguttara Nikaya
  • Mahavastu
  • Bhagavati Sutra → not reliable

Emergence of New Categories of people/ Society

Gahapati

• master of an individual household which owned land, which became an imp form of wealth.
• Bigger one cultivated their lands with the help of slaves or hired labourers called the karmakara and Shudras

Merchants

• Setthi, meaning ‘a person having the best’ is referred to in Buddhist texts.
• By the 6th century BC trade and merchandise became an independent source of economic activity led to the emergence of free peasants and merchants. Free from clan obligations of sharing surplus food or wealth.
• Concept of Private property had emerged.

Ruler and the Ruled

• The rulers of this period ruled over their lineage and the notion of ruling over a territory had not emerged.
• taxes collected from the kinsmen were largely voluntary tributes
• There are references to Krsaka i.e. peasants who paid taxes to the king
• The Praja included people from the non-lineage groups also they were not related with kinship ties to the Ruler.
• Raids now changed into organised campaigns in which territory annexed and agriculturists and traders were forced to pay taxes.
• Bhagadugha collected bhaga i.e. a share of the agricultural produce. Survey of the agricultural land was done by an official called Rajjugahaka

Social Life (Extra)

• Jivaka was the court physician of Bimbisara who also looked after Buddha.
• Villages - Gama/Grama was the equivalent to a unit of settlement in a Mahajanpada. In villages people generally pursued agricultural activities.
• Dasas, karmakaras and porisas were labourers. Villages inhabited by non-kinship groups also came into existence.
• Kassaka and ksetrika denoted the common peasants who were generally of the Sudra jati.
• The leaders of the villages were called Gamini
• Towns and cities dominated by Kings and merchants are variously referred to as Pura, Nigma and Nigama
• cities had emerged as the focus of power and control over the Mahajanapada

Mahajanapadas and Their Capitals :

Mahajanapada	Capital	Details
Kashi	Varanasi	most powerful in the beginning famous for its cotton textiles and market for horses. orange brown robes of the Buddhirt monks were called Kashaya in Sanskrit which was made in Kashi indicating that it was a cloth manufacturing centre and market.Dashrath Jataka mentions that Dashrath, Rama etc were kings of Kasi.Father of Parsva 23rd Jain tirthankara’s father was king of KashiIt was annexed by Kosala during the time of Buddharivalry with Kosala , Magadha and Anga
Kosala	Shravasti, Kushavasti	emerged out of an assimilation of many smaller principalities and lineagesSakyas of Kapilavastu were under its control. Buddha calls himself a Kosalan in the Majjhima NikayaHiranyanabha. Mahakasala Prasenajita and Suddhodana are mentioned as rulersthree big cities under its control i.e. Ayodhya. Saketa and Sravasti Kings of Kosala favoured both Brahmanism and BuddhismPrasenajita was a contemporary and friend of the Buddha
Anga	Champa	districts of Bhagalpur and Monghyr in BiharChampa has been identified as one the 6 major cities of 6th century BC.it was annexed by Magadha was famous for trading activity carried through the Ganga river.
Magadha	Rajgriha	started by Brihadrathacapital was shifted to Pataliputra somewhere in the fifth century B.C.Brahmanical text have called Magadhans as inferior because they did not follow the varna system.Bimbisara is said to have called an assembly of the Gaminis of 80.000 villages
Vajji	Vaishali	Was a confedary of Licchavis, Vajjis, Videhas, Jnatrikas. Mentioned in Buddhaghoshas Sumangala Vilasinicontemporary texts refer to them as a Ganasamgha a republic or an oligarchy ruled by group of Kshatriya chiefs.represented a confederacy of eight clans of whom the Videhas, Licchavis and the Jnatrikas.Mahavira belonged to the Jnatrika which was a clan inside of Vaishali. The capital of Licchavis was vaishali.Other members of the confederacy were Ugras, Bhogas, Kauravas and Aiksavakas.They did no have a standing army or a system of revenue collection from agriculture. Ajatsatru destroyed them with the help of his minister Vassakara.
Malla	Kusinara, Pava	Kshatriya lineage referred to as Ganasamghas, their headquarters in the towns of Pava and KusinagaraBuddha died near Kusinagara and his last rites were performed by the Mallas.allies with Vajjis, was originally Monarchial
Chedi	Suktimati	mentioned in MahabharataSisupala the famous enemy of Krishna, was a Chedi rulerclose touch with the chiefs of Matsya beyond the Chambal, the Kasis of Benaras and the Karusas of Son valley.Other important towns in this territory were Sahajati and Tripluri
Vatsa	Kaushambi	famed for cotton textiles, romantic dramas of Svapna Vasavdatta of Bhasa etc based on its king UdayanaThe puranas say that the descendant of the PandavasNichaksu shifted his capital to Kausambi after Hastinapur had been washed away by floods
Kurus	Indraprastha	originally a monarchy, Uttaradhyayana Sutra refers to kuru king named Isukarawere supposed to belong to the family of YudhisthiraArthashastra mentions then for carrying the title of Kings.they did not have absolute monarchy as many political center were there Hastinapura, Indraprastha, Isukara are each mentioned as the capital of the KurusMahabharata mentions them
Panchala	Ahicchhatra, Kampiliya	seem to have been closely linked to the KurusThey are referred to as a sangha later switched to oligarchy, Chulani Brahmadatta was imp king
Matsya	Viratnagara	Virat was founderViratnagara famed as the hiding place of the Pandavaswas more suitable for cattle rearing
Shurasenas	Mathura	In the Mahabharata and the Puranas the ruling family of Mathura is referred to as Yadus/Yadavaswas divided into many smaller clans like the Andhakas, Vrishani, Mahabhojas, etchad a samgha form of governmentlocated at the junction of Uttarapatha and the Daksinapatha.
Assaka	Pratishthana	Some texts like Ashtadyayi, Markandeya purana etc say it was in north west. But this is not the case.
Avanti	Mahishmati, Ujjaini	Pradyota was imp King, imp place in trade routesThe Puranas attribute the foundation of Avanti to one of the clans of the Yadus called the Haihayadeveloped into a centralized monarch.Pradyota was the most prominent king of this region. He conquered Vatsa.
Gandhara	Taxila	trade and learning center, Pukkusati was an imp ruler, Behistun inscription of Darius say he captured it.Gandhara was ruled by a King named Pukkusati. He was friendly with BimbisaraIt was later captured by the Persians.Taxila was an imp learning and trading city.
Kamboja	Rajapura	Arthashastra calls them a confederation of agriculturists, herdsmen, traders and warriors ie a SanghaBrahmanical texts have called them as uncultured.

PYQs

1. Examine the relationship among economic growth, urbanization and State formation from c. 7th century to 3rd century BCE. [2016, 15 Marks]

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Answer

The relationship between economic growth, urbanization, and state formation in ancient India from the 7th century to 3rd century BCE is complex and intertwined. During this period, the development of agriculture and trade led to increased economic growth, which in turn supported the growth of cities and the formation of large states or “Mahajanpadas”.

One of the key features of this period was the development of the iron age, which allowed for the creation of new tools and weapons. This, in turn, led to a growth in agriculture, as the iron tools allowed for more efficient cultivation of land. This growth in agriculture was one of the main drivers of economic growth, as it allowed for the production of surplus food, which could be traded and sold.

The growth in trade and commerce also led to the development of cities, as merchants and traders sought to take advantage of the economic opportunities provided by the new markets. Cities such as Kashi, Kaushambi, Panchala, and Magadha became centers of trade, commerce, and culture, attracting people from all over India. The growth of these cities was also accompanied by the growth of various industries, such as weaving and metalworking, which supported the local economies and created new jobs.

As the cities and economies grew, the need for strong and centralized political systems also grew. The development of large states or “Mahajanpadas” was a response to this need, as rulers sought to control and regulate the growing economies and populations. These states were characterized by a centralized administration, an effective system of taxation, and a well-trained army, which allowed the rulers to maintain order and control over the territory.

One of the most prominent examples of these Mahajanpadas was Magadha, which was located in the modern-day state of Bihar. Magadha became one of the most powerful states in India, with a strong central government, an efficient administration, and a well-trained army. The state was also home to several major cities, such as Rajgir and Pataliputra, which were centers of trade, commerce, and culture.

Another example was the state of Kashi, located in modern-day Uttar Pradesh. Kashi was one of the most important cities in India, with a rich cultural heritage and a thriving economy. The state was also known for its production of fine textiles and was a major center of trade and commerce.

The growth of agriculture and trade led to increased economic growth, which in turn supported the growth of cities and the formation of large states or “Mahajanpadas”. These states were characterized by a centralized administration, an effective system of taxation, and a well-trained army, which allowed the rulers to maintain order and control over the territory.